Systems and methods for routing data traffic based on network conditions

Abstract

Systems and methods are described for routing data traffic based on network conditions. Network conditions for a communication network may be monitored, where the communication network comprises a first access node and a second access node that are in communication using a first communication link and a second communication link. The monitored network conditions may include at least a utilization of the second communication link. It may be determined that the network conditions meet a criteria. A first classification may be assigned to a message when it is determined that the network conditions meet the criteria. The first access node may be instructed to transmit the message over the first communication link based on the first classification when the network conditions meet the criteria and to transmit the message over the second communication link when the network conditions fail to meet the criteria.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for routing data traffic based on network conditions, the method comprising:
 monitoring network conditions in a communication network that comprises at least a first access node and a second access node in communication using a first communication link and a second communication link, wherein
 the first communication link comprises a first logical connection and a second logical connection, the first logical connection having end points that comprise the first access node and a processing node, and the second logical connection having end points that comprise the processing node and the second access node, and 
 the second communication link comprises a third logical connection with endpoints that comprise the first access node and the second access node, and 
 
 determining that the network conditions meet a criteria, wherein the network conditions comprise at least a utilization of the second communication link; 
 assigning a first classification to a message when it is determined that the network conditions meet the criteria; and 
 instructing the first access node to transmit the message over the first communication link to the second access node based on the first classification when the network conditions meet the criteria and to transmit the message over the second communication link to the second access node when the network conditions fail to meet the criteria. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 assigning a second message a second classification when it is determined that the network conditions meet the criteria; and 
 instructing the first access node to transmit the second message over the second communication link based on the second classification when the network conditions meet the criteria. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the network conditions further comprise one or more of a ratio of the utilization of the second communication link to a utilization of data bearer channels between the first access node and a plurality of wireless devices, and a number of communication links that communicatively link access nodes of the communication network. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the network conditions further comprise at least one of a data utilization for the first access node, a resource block utilization for the first access node, a number of connections to wireless devices for the first access node, a mobility for the wireless devices in communication with the first access node, and a handover failure number for the first access node. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first communication link communicatively links the first access node to a processing node different from the second access node. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , wherein messages transmitted over the first communication link are relayed to the second access node via the processing node. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of a message used to handover a wireless device from the first access node to the second access node and a message used to perform load balancing between the first access node and the second access node is assigned to the second classification. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of a communication link reset message, a failure report message, and an error message is assigned to the first classification. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the message is assigned to the first classification based on a message type for the message, wherein the message type is associated with the first classification when the network conditions meet the criteria. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 determining that the network conditions meet a second criteria different from the criteria and that the network conditions fail to meet the criteria; 
 assigning messages of the message type to the second classification when it is determined that the network conditions meet the second criteria, wherein the message type is associated with the second classification when the network conditions meet the second criteria and the network conditions fail to meet the criteria; and 
 instructing the first access node to transmit messages of the first classification over the first communication link and messages of the second classification over the second communication link when the network conditions meet the second criteria and the network conditions fail to meet the criteria. 
 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first access node and second access node comprises a backhaul connection to the communication network, the backhaul connection for the first access node being an S1 link over a wired medium with end points comprising the communication network and the first access node and the backhaul connection for the second access node being an S1 link over a wired medium with end points comprising the communication network and the second access node. 
     
     
       12. A system for routing data traffic based on network conditions, the system comprising:
 a controller with a processor and memory storing instructions, the instructions configuring the controller to:
 monitor network conditions in a communication network that comprises at least a first access node and a second access node in communication using a first communication link and a second communication link, wherein
 the first communication link comprises a first logical connection and a second logical connection, the first logical connection having end points that comprise the first access node and a processing node, and the second logical connection having end points that comprise the processing node and the second access node, and 
 the second communication link comprises a third logical connection with endpoints that comprise the first access node and the second access node, and 
 
 determine that the network conditions meet a criteria, wherein the network conditions comprise at least a utilization of the second communication link; 
 assign a first classification to a message when it is determined that the network conditions meet the criteria; and 
 instruct the first access node to transmit the message over the first communication link to the second access node based on the first classification when the network conditions meet the criteria and to transmit the message over the second communication link to the second access node when the network conditions fail to meet the criteria. 
 
 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 12 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 assign a second message a second classification when it is determined that the network conditions meet the criteria; and 
 instruct the first access node to transmit the second message over the second communication link based on the second classification when the network conditions meet the criteria. 
 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 12 , wherein the network conditions further comprise a ratio of the utilization of the second communication link to a utilization of data bearer channels between the first access node and a plurality of wireless devices. 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 12 , wherein the first communication link communicatively links the first access node to a processing node different from the second access node. 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 15 , wherein messages transmitted over the first communication link are relayed to the second access node via the processing node. 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of a message used to handover a wireless device from the first access node to the second access node and a message used to perform load balancing between the first access node and the second access node is assigned to the second classification. 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 12 , wherein the message is assigned to the first classification based on a message type for the message, wherein the message type is associated with the first classification when the network conditions meet the criteria. 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 18 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 determine that the network conditions meet a second criteria different from the criteria and that the network conditions fail to meet the criteria; 
 assign messages of the message type to the second classification when it is determined that the network conditions meet the second criteria, wherein the message type is associated with the second classification when the network conditions meet the second criteria and the network conditions fail to meet the criteria; and 
 instruct the first access node to transmit messages of the first classification over the first communication link to the second access node and messages of the second classification over the second communication link to the second access node when the network conditions meet the second criteria and the network conditions fail to meet the criteria. 
 
     
     
       20. A method for routing data traffic based on network conditions, the method comprising:
 monitoring network conditions in a communication network that comprises at least a first access node and a second access node in communication using a first communication link and a second communication link, wherein
 the first communication link comprises a first logical connection and a second logical connection, the first logical connection having end points that comprise the first access node and a processing node, and the second logical connection having end points that comprise the processing node and the second access node, and 
 the second communication link comprises a third logical connection with endpoints that comprise the first access node and the second access node, and 
 
 determining that the network conditions meet a criteria, wherein the network conditions comprise at least a utilization of the second communication link; 
 assigning one of a first classification and a second classification to a message when it is determined that the network conditions meet the criteria; and 
 instructing the first access node to transmit messages of the first classification over the second communication link to the second access node and to transmit messages of the second classification over the first communication link to the second access node.